Alicia Martin Repurposes Books for Site-Specific Installations

In an age where the transition between print and digital culture is deeply felt — especially in the journalism industry — Alicia Martin’s works inspire a timely discussion about the literary relics of the past. While many lament the nearly-bygone days of curling up with a book rather than a tablet, Martin’s artworks, which repurpose thousands of disused books, make these printed, unread pages look like a huge demonstration of excess — maybe even a waste of natural resources. One can’t help but feel a sense of guilt about the unread volumes on one’s bookshelf when faced with Martin’s masses of books. Her works force one to come to terms with the changing ways knowledge is disseminated and consumed. See more of Martin’s works below.